Simms’ Single in Ninth Sinks Tigers

Pinch-hitter Mike Simms singled home the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning Wednesday night, giving the Texas Rangers a 2-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers.

The Tigers tied it in the ninth on Tony Clark’s run-scoring single with two outs off John Wetteland.

Ivan Rodriguez, who homered in the fourth, singled off Doug Brocail (0-2) to open the Texas ninth and moved up on Rusty Greer’s sacrifice against Mike Myers.

Myers struck out Will Clark, who had three hits, and intentionally walked Dean Palmer. Dan Miceli relieved and Simms, who homered as a pinch-hitter Monday night, fisted the first pitch into short right field. Melvin Nieves charged the ball but had no chance as Rodriguez scored easily.

Ranger starter Darren Oliver gave up only two hits in eight innings, and Wetteland (1-0) took over to start the ninth.

Damion Easley doubled with one out and scored on Clark’s two-out single.

Detroit’s only chance to score off Oliver came in the third. Bobby Higginson led off with a double and Brian Hunter had a two-out single. Greer made a diving catch on Easley’s fly to end the inning, beginning a string of 14 consecutive batters retired by Oliver.

Detroit failed in its third try of the season to win three games in a row. The Tigers’ nine April victories matches their total for the month last year.